Although financial interactions between healthcare industry and pediatric hematologist/oncologists (PHOs) contributes to and are vital for improving patient care, they could be conflicts of interest among PHOs. Nevertheless, little is known about financial relationships between healthcare industry and PHOs in the United States.

 

This cross-sectional analysis of the Open Payments Database examined general and research payments to PHOs from healthcare industry in the United States between 2013 and 2021. PHOs were considered as physicians whose primary specialty was pediatric hematology/oncology in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System. Payments to the PHOs were analyzed descriptively. Trends in payments were assessed using generalized estimating equation models.

 

Of 2784 PHOs, 2142 (76.9%) PHOs received payments totaling $187.3 million from the healthcare industry between 2013-2021. Approximately $46.3 million (24.8%) were general payments and $137.7 million (73.5%) were funding for research where PHOs served as principal investigators (associated research funding). While 40.1% of PHOs accepted associated research funding, 72.7% of PHOs received general payments from the healthcare industry. Both general payments and associated research funding considerably increased between 2014-2019. The number of PHOs receiving general payments and associated research funding annually increased by 2.2% (95% CI: 1.2%–3.3%, p<0.001) and 5.0% (95% CI: 3.3%–6.8%, p<0.001) between 2014-2019, respectively.

 

This study found that majority of PHOs received non-research payments related to novel hemophilia and cancer drugs. The healthcare industry spent three fourth of their payments for research purposes. Both research and non-research payments significantly increased over the study period.